Twenty-five of the top 30 shares by market value and liquidity advanced on the HCM City Stock Exchange, of which insurer Bao Viet Holdings (BVH), PetroVietnam Finance (PVF), Ocean Group (OGC) and Tan Tao Investment Industry (ITA) hit their ceiling prices.

There were five times more gainers than losers and the benchmark VN-Index increased 1.95 per cent over Friday, closing this morning's session at 443.41 on a turnover of more than VND815 billion (US$38.8 million).

The VN30 Index also rose 1.79 per cent to stand at 513.65 points.

Today, PV Gas debuted nearly 1.9 billion shares under the code of GAS at the reference price of VND36,000 ($1.71), becoming the second largest share on the southern bourse with a 9-per-cent market share on a total capitalisation of VND68.22 trillion ($3.25 billion). GAS climbed 7.2 per cent over its reference price to finish this morning at VND38,600 ($1.84).